Chapter Twenty-Seven: Life

Jason walked into the Grandstand. He headed straight for the bar where he saw Celeste sitting on a stool on the end, a beer bottle in her hand.

‘They said I might find you here’ Jason said, sitting next to her, looking at her. Celeste remained silent, putting the bottle to her mouth, tipping it slightly.

‘Not talking huh? Well I’m not letting you drink alone. I’m going to sit right here and drink with you and we’re going to talk because they told me what happened. Understand?’ Jason told her. Jason signalled to one of the civilians behind the bar who handed him a bottle.

‘Alright,’ Jason said opening the bottle. ‘I’ll start. What happened wasn’t your fault’

‘I’ve heard this speech enough times to know what you’re going to say’ Celeste said quietly.

‘She speaks. Apparently you haven’t spoken to anyone the last couple of days and your actions have been out-of-character. For example no one knew you drank beer, let alone drink full stop’ Jason said.

‘Because I don’t, and this,’ Celeste replied, shaking the bottle. ‘It's the only thing we’ve got’ Celeste continued as she finished off the bottle. Jason started drinking his.

‘That’s…new’ Jason said, his eyes popping.

‘I take don’t drink’ Celeste said.

‘I do occasionally, mainly vodka. But as you said, this will have to do’ Jason said, smiling a little.

‘At least you’re back, with Sarah as you promised’ Celeste said, turning to face him. Her eyes were bloodshot but Jason saw a slight glimmer of joy in her eyes. Jason didn’t want to crush it, he could see it was the only thing keeping her going, but he knew he had to do it. She deserved to know. Jason sighed.

‘You might want another one’ Jason said.

‘Celebrating your return?’ Celeste asked as the civilian handed her another bottle. She opened and drank almost immediately.

‘Yes and no. Celeste, in order to escape the prison, I had to use Nexus forces as a diversion. Claire, Sarah and I, plus two others made it out but um…’ he started.

‘What is it?’ Celeste said. She was already halfway through the bottle.

‘Sarah was shot. She… she died a couple of hours ago’ Jason told her.

‘What?’ Celeste said quietly, her voice shaking.

‘Sarah’s dead. She bled to death in front of me’ Jason said. ‘We were just too little too late’

‘No…’ Celeste said, getting off the stool and backing away. ‘You’re lying’ Celeste said as she left Jason and ran off. Carlisle had been watching from afar and walked over to him.

‘It’s a lot to process’ he said.

‘Yeah, well… she needed to know’ Jason replied.

‘Should someone keep an eye on her?’ Carlisle asked.

‘No. Like you said, it’s a lot to process especially after losing the baby. She just needs time’ Jason answered.

‘Ok, that’s your decision. We still have several things to discuss. The most pressing is what to do with the Nexus prisoners. We can’t keep them locked up in the kitchen long-term’ Carlisle said.

‘I agree. I know military protocol says execution but I think they’re perfect bargaining chips, both for protection and dealing’ Jason said.

‘Protection?’ Carlisle asked.

‘The Nexus won’t try to take the Racecourse if they have soldiers that are being held as prisoners inside. In the meantime, I want to speak to Miles’ Jason said.

‘Knock yourself out. He’s through that door on your right’ Carlisle responded, pointing at the door.

‘I’m back,’ Jason said, walking into the opening, leaning against a wall. ‘Did you miss me?’

‘Jason,’ Miles replied unhappily. ‘I see you survived’

‘You knew about that’

‘I hear things. The door isn’t that thick’ Miles said. Jason nodded.

‘As you probably know, the military have a process for dealing with… with people like you,’ Jason said. When Miles didn’t respond he continued. ‘It’s like a trial, except you don’t get to defend yourself. All the evidence gets shown to the other soldiers and then a silent vote. If you’re found innocent, congratulations, you’re free to go. If you’re found guilty, it’s the death penalty. I am giving you twenty-four hours. If you confess and tell us everything you know about the Nexus in that time, Death Penalty comes off the table’ Jason said to him.

‘But you’ve got the wrong man-‘ Miles started.

‘Then you have the twenty-four hours to give us the name of the right man’ Jason said, leaving the room. He saw a large leather couch on a carpeted floor which Jason collapsed himself into and let out a sigh of pleasure as comfort overwhelmed him. Next thing he knew he was being shaken by Carlisle.

‘Good, you’re awake’ Carlisle said, his voice sounding a little panicked.

‘I didn’t even know I was asleep’ Jason replied.

‘Yeah well, we’ve got bigger problems. Celeste is missing. Last time anyone saw her was an hour ago. A car is missing too, presumably taken by Celeste’ Carlisle said.

‘Have you searched the Racecourse?’ Jason asked.

‘Twice. How do you think we know she’s missing?’ Carlisle replied.

‘Alright, I’ll take a car, Emilia and Claire and go find her. You’re in charge until I get back’ Jason told him.

‘You don’t even know where to look’ Carlisle responded.

‘Tell them to meet me outside’ Jason ordered. He had a feeling that he knew exactly where she was.

‘You’re sure she’s going to be here?’ Claire asked as Jason pulled a car he had taken from the Racecourse roughly into a car park, and parked it across two parking spaces.

‘Call it a hunch’ Jason replied. They arrived at Scarborough beach, the sun was setting over the little amount of water they could see. For a moment Jason was reminded of the peace that had come before what many now regarded as a war. Jason ran down to the shore and saw that Celeste was already in the water up to her waist. Jason’s hydrophobia set in now. The water wasn’t violent, in fact it was quite calm, but he could tell there was a strong current as Celeste seemed to be fighting to walk in a straight line. Jason stood at the water’s edge, watching as Celeste walked further into the water that was creeping up to her neck.

‘Celeste!’ Jason called out. Celeste turned and saw him.

‘How did you find me?’ She asked. A slight was blowing now.

‘It doesn’t matter. Don’t do this’ Jason pleaded. He was afraid of this.

‘I miss her already’ Celeste said breathing deeply. Jason could tell she was on the edge, that she would take herself under at any moment.

‘You really think Sarah would want you to do this?’ Jason asked.

‘Do you believe?’ Celeste asked.

‘Believe?’

‘In God? In the afterlife? Celeste added. Jason shook his head.

‘I don’t’ Jason answered.

‘Why not?’

‘Because if he’s so perfect why did he create a world with so many imperfections? That being said I have no problem with people believing in their perfectionist God,’ Jason replied. ‘Now please, come out of the water’

‘I can’t’ Celeste said simply and let herself fall under the water.

‘Celeste, no!’ Jason said, but it was useless. His voice carried over the surface of the water, deaf on Celeste’s ears. Jason knew had to move, pull her out but between his fear of water and the shock of seeing Celeste go under, he couldn’t move. He stood there for what felt like hours to him until either Claire or Emilia pushed him into the water. The shock of the cold temperature forced him to move. He didn’t know how long Celeste had been under. A minute at the least but possibly longer and given how drunk she was, she could’ve drowned already. All fear aside Jason swam to where Celeste had gone under, letting the current take him which was indeed strong, after a few strokes he was already about thirty metres down the beach. Suddenly his foot hit solid flesh, Celeste’s body. Taking a deep breath to calm himself he dove down. The salt water stung his eyes, almost blinding him. All he could see were cloudy shapes in the water, but he could the see the outline of Celeste just metres in front of him. Slowly he wrapped his arms around and pulled her up, gasping for air as he broke through the surface. Celeste was unconscious and Jason realised he hadn’t thought this through. He hadn’t thought about how he was going to carry Celeste’s deadweight back to the shore. Slowly he planted his feet into the sand below him and slowly fought against the current to walk back to shore. Jason’s legs carried him through the water and he was exhausted by the time he reached the sand on the shore. Jason collapsed as he saw Claire and Emilia run over to them.

‘Jason?’ Claire said.

‘I’ll be fine, help Celeste’ Jason panted, rolling onto his back, catching his breath. He could hear Emilia trying to resuscitate Celeste and eventually, just when he could tell that Emilia was about to give up he heard the coughing and splattering of water